So much for the potential retirement for Alex Garland (although, to be fair, he did clarify last year that he wouldn’t retire after all). Deadline reports that the “Warfare” and “Civil War” director has a new project over at A24, and it’s the same one rumors have swirled around about in recent weeks.
Garland’s next movie? A live-action “Elden Ring” film, based on the 2022 video game from Bandai Namco Entertainment Inc. It comes with little surprise that A24 wants to make something based on “Elden Ring”; it’s one of the most popular action RPGS of the 2020s. But Alex Garland directing it? That should raise some eyebrows, especially since he’s never done dark fantasy before, or at least not like the game’s.
Peter Rice will produce the pic with Andrew Macdonald and Allon Reich via DNA, with George R. R. Martin and Vince Gerardis also producing. “Game Of Thrones” creator Martin wrote the story for “Elden Ring,” so naturally he’s involved. Created by FromSoftware‘s Hidetaka Miyazaki, “Elden Ring” lets players embark on adventures across a massive medieval fantasy world that includes dungeons, dragons, and more. The original game has sold over 30 million units since its first release, and it has a new spin-off, “Elden Ring Nightreign,” releasing worldwide on May 30.
As noted earlier, Garland tackling dark fantasy is a mild shocker, but the director working with A24 certainly isn’t. Four of Garland’s five movies behind the camera were made with the studio, including 2014’s breakout “Ex Machina,” 2021’s “Men,” “Civil War,” and “Warfare.” The only outlier? 2018’s “Annihilation,” which Paramount distributed. Garland’s relationship with production banner DNA goes back a long time, too. They produced Danny Boyle‘s 2002 zombie pic “28 Days Later,” with Garland penning its screenplay, and are all involved in Boyle’s new follow-up “28 Years Later,” in theaters on June 20.
As for a budget, castings, and shooting schedule for Garland’s “Elden Ring” film? That’s all a mystery for now. Garland’s turnover between “Civil War” and “Warfare” was quite rapid, but that’s because he and “Warfare” co-director Ray Mendoza developed that movie while shooting “Civil War.” In that case, expect at least a couple of years before “Elden Ring” hits theaters. And then will Garland retire after that project? Chances are probably not.
